Luke 1:17

Verse 17. Turn the hearts of the fathers, and so forth The angel applies these words (Malach. 4:6) to Saint John the Baptist; telling his father, that he shall convert many of the children of Israel, and so forth by bringing them to the knowledge of Christ. Secondly, that he shall go before him, or be his precursor and forerunner.—In the spirit and power of Elias; that is Saint John shall be the forerunner of Christ’s first coming to redeem mankind, as Elias shall be the forerunner of Christ’s second coming to judge the world. Thirdly, that Saint John, by converting the Jews, shall also turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and so forth The meaning of which obscure words seems to be, that whereas Moses, Abraham, and the prophets, (whose souls were in a place of rest) knew by a revelation from God, that their children, the Jews, lived in sin and disobedience to the laws of God; and on this account were offended and displeased at them: now when they shall know that they have been converted by the preaching of Saint John, they shall rejoice, and be reconciled to their children, the Jews: for as our Saviour tells us, (Luke 15:7) there is joy in heaven upon any one sinner that doth penance. The angel, to explain the foregoing words, adds, and the incredulous to the wisdom and prudence of the just; that is Saint John’s preaching shall make them truly wise and just. Witham.—With reason is he said to precede Christ, who was his forerunner both in his birth and in his death. In the spirit of prophecy, and in the power of abstinence, and patience, and zeal, they resembled each other; Elias was in the desert, Saint John was in the desert also. The one sought not the favour of king Achab, the other despised the favour of Herod. The one divided the Jordan, the other changed it into a laver of salvation. The one is to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ’s second coming, as the other was of his first. Saint Ambrose.